Sullivan waste haulers' debts piling up

County seeks to recoup fees, raise $25K limit

MONTICELLO — For the second time in 13 months, Sullivan County legislators are being asked to authorize repayment agreements with trash haulers to settle overdue accounts that in some cases total hundreds of thousands of dollars at the county's transfer station in Monticello.

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By Leonard Sparks

recordonline.com

By Leonard Sparks

Posted Jan. 22, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Leonard Sparks
Posted Jan. 22, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

MONTICELLO — For the second time in 13 months, Sullivan County legislators are being asked to authorize repayment agreements with trash haulers to settle overdue accounts that in some cases total hundreds of thousands of dollars at the county's transfer station in Monticello.

Members of the Legislature's Executive Committee will discuss a resolution Thursday that would give county officials the power to waive the $25,000 limit on unpaid charges at the station. It also would allow Treasurer Ira Cohen to negotiate repayment agreements with those exceeding the limit.

Legislators approved a similar resolution in December 2011.

"If we cut them off, they're going to go somewhere else and we'll lose the revenue," Cohen said Thursday during a meeting of the Legislature's Public Works Committee.

In addition to trash haulers, those holding accounts to dump trash, recyclables and construction debris include contractors, municipalities and residential developments. The county charges commercial haulers $90 per ton to dump bulk solid waste and construction debris.

Nearly $1.2 million was owed by dozens of account holders as of Jan. 7, according to a report generated by the Treasurer's Office.

Sullivan County First Recycling owed $357,576. The same report showed $211,060 owed by Waste Pro Inc. and $152,074 due from Thompson Sanitation. Both Waste Pro and Thompson Sanitation are affiliated companies.

"Ironically, our biggest haulers are not just the ones who do the most revenue; they are also the ones who are the most in arrears," Cohen said.

Beyond the immediate need to negotiate with the largest debtors, the county is discussing amending its solid-waste rules to clarify when accounts are considered overdue and to establish a process for collection, Cohen said.

Part of Thursday's discussion touched on the subject of the debt limit, which Cohen supports raising above $25,000.

Some legislators, however, are wary of the size of the current bills and of extending haulers additional credit.

"It may be that $25,000 is too low, but clearly, in my mind, a half a million dollars is too high," said Legislator Alan Sorensen.